Brewerville, Montserrado County – The pastor of the New Water in the Desert Apostolic Pentecostal Church has called on both indicted and accused persons in the Global Witness Report, captioned: “The Deceivers”, from the Legislative and Executive Branches of Government [of Liberia] to recuse themselves from their various official functions in the interest of peace and a fair trial.
“All must recuse themselves” to avoid conflict of interest and/or prejudice during investigation by the Presidential Task Force or court trial, Rev. Dr. Kortu K. Brown said at a special thanksgiving service today at New Water in the Desert Assembly to climax 3-days of fasting and prayers for Liberia for peace, mercy and forgiveness. He spoke on the theme: “Lambs among the wolves” with Scripture Text from St. Luke 10:1-3 and Ezekiel 22:27-29.
The Pentecostal cleric said that the recusal proposal will help close the current chapter of political wrangling and unnecessary tension within the country and enable all those accused and/or indicted to address the allegations against them in the court of law while the country moves forward in preparation for the reception of an important new year, 2017. “Most of the ordinary people are confused as to which direction the country is leading with all the bickering”, he averred.
The Bishop of the Apostolic Pentecostal Church said that those who work for God should know the terrain and the people God sends them to work with. In St. Luke Chapter 10, he averred that Jesus hired 70 evangelists and send them out to reach out to communities he was scheduled to visit, cautioning them that the “harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few”
Dr. Brown told the congregation that Jesus told his newly organized team of field workers to expect trouble and persecution because he was sending them like “lambs in the midst of wolves” in their territory of work.
He described lambs as being “peaceful and patient” while wolves as being “bloody and cruel” and cautioned Liberia leaders to avoid the Prophet Ezekiel’s characterization of the leaders of Israel when he said.
“Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain. And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD has not spoken”, according to Ezekiel 22:27-28.
The immediate past first vice president of Liberia Council of Churches reminded his congregation that wolves were the largest of the wild carnivous animals that include dogs, foxes, and jackals and were known for their boldness and fierceness of attacks.
He however said that all of the shepherds in the Bible knew wolves as the greatest enemy of the sheep insisting that’s why Jesus Himself warned his followers against false prophets which He described as “wolf in sheep’s clothing” according to St. Matthew 7:15. “Who are you Liberians: lambs or wolves?” he quipped, adding that a wolf often killed more than it could eat because the taste of blood put it into frenzy.
A Lamb who he also considered as sheep was an animal he said that symbolized people without leadership and unity, scattered without a shepherd according to I Kings 22:17; innocent people not deserving of punishment according to I Chronicle 21:17; helpless people facing slaughter according to Psalm 44:11, 22 and death according to Psalm 49:14.
Touching on peace, the astute man of God said that Jesus instructed his 70-man team to not take along a wallet, bag or shoes; avoid the usual lengthy salutations and to pronounce peace on each home they entered where they were accepted.
“This was a peace that stick like a magnet”, the Pentecostal Bishop said, adding, “Peace sticks only to a person inclined to peace”.
“Are Liberians inclined to peace”, he wondered. “If so, then reduce the unnecessary political tension in the country so that normalcy can be restored to the business of government, etc.” he advised.
“Since 2003”, he said, “The country has enjoyed relative peace and tranquility while yearning for economic prosperity. With UNMIL draw down and prospects for a democratic transition in 2018, greater priority must be placed on strengthening security, maintaining peace and raising the hopes and aspirations of the ordinary people”, the pastor said, reiterating that the “current political wrangling is confusing to ordinary Liberians and it’s time to call it quit to avoid placing Liberia on a time bomb” warning that we must subordinate personal interest to the national interest.
He called on all Liberians and their leaders to disarm their hearts of hatred and undermining, to amend their actions and to reach out to one another in love and peace to move the country forward.
He called on Christians to become laborers for Christ and not just stayed in the multitude or crowd of the church without working for God.